2025 BACDS Playford Ball — The Dances
- In longwise dances, 1Left, 2Left, etc. refer to left file dancers (left shoulder towards the band); similarly for 1Right, etc.
- “Rights and lefts” implies with hands, "circular hey" implies no hands.
- “Siding” alone implies Cecil Sharp “swirly” siding; Side R(L) shoulder implies shoulder-to-shoulder siding.
- In duple minor dances “corners” refers to the people; “diagonal” refers to the positions.
- Numbers of steps (in parenthesis) are provided where phasing may be unclear.
- Turns and circles are once round unless otherwise noted.
- CW/CCW = clockwise/counterclockwise.
Autumn in Amherst |
| Composer: |
Philippe Callens, 2002 |
| Video: |
youtu.be/EHyPfmwTcok |
| Tune: |
"The Red Star Line" by Kathy Talvitie |
| Meter: |
2/2 |
| Format: |
Duple minor, improper |
|
| A |
All step R and honor partner, turn single L, turn partner L hand, turn neighbor R hand;
circle L halfway and fall back. |
| B |
1st corners change places R shoulder. 2nd corners change places L shoulder; half draw poussette (CCW: 1st corners drawing), continuing past the other couple to end with 1s facing up, 2s facing down (2nd corners in the center), nearer hands joined with partners.
All lead forward a double and back.
All cast R simultaneously to progressed places on "wrong" side, change places R shoulder. |
|
Blythe Company |
| Composer: |
Brooke Friendly & Chris Sackett |
| Video: |
youtu.be/WMuwktsL4_g |
| Tune: |
"All Among the Barley" (trad.) |
| Meter: |
6/8 |
| Format: |
Triple minor |
|
| A |
1s side R shoulders and L shoulders. |
| B |
1s cast, 2s leading up (4), taking hands all set.
1s gate CW with the dancer on their R while long 1st corners go forward a double and back toward each other. |
| C |
L shoulder heys for 3 across the dance, 1st couple dancing with the couple to their own R. |
|
The Costumer's Delight
[for those who know — will not be walked through] |
| Composer: |
Philippe Callens, 2018 |
| Video: |
youtu.be/55y8O8nPgT8 |
| Tune: |
“One Charming Night” by Henry Purcell
included at end of Barnes 3 |
| Meter: |
3/2 |
| Format: |
Three couple longways |
|
| A1 |
1s and 2s set forward to partners and face up (6).
1s cast down to second place, as 2s lead up and turn single away into first place (6).
1s lead down through the 3s and cast up to second place (12). |
| A2 |
Repeat A1 from the bottom:
1s and 3s set forward to partners and face down.
3s cast up to second place, as 1s lead down and turn single away into 3rd place.
3s lead up through the 2s and cast down to second place. Order is now 2-3-1. |
| B1 |
End couples (2s and 1s) change by the R hand with partner, L diagonals (2Left with 3Left. 1Right with 3Right) change by the left hand. New middles (2Left and 1Right) R hand turn once and a half to end facing out and improper.
Middles dance CW ½ way around the ends to finish in second place proper, while 1st long diagonal (2Right and 1Left) cross by the R shoulder (6), then 2nd long diagonal (3s) cross by the L shoulder (6). |
| B2 |
repeat B1 with opposite handing:
New end couples change by the L hand, R diagonals (3Right and 1Right, 2Left and 3Left) change by the R hand. New middles (3s) L hand turn once and a half to end facing out improper.
3s dance CCW ½ way around the ends to finish in second place proper, while 2nd long diagonal cross by the L shoulder (6), then 1st long diagonal cross by the R shoulder (6). |
|
Faithless Nancy Dawson |
|
| A |
1s lead through 2s, cast back to place.
2s lead through 1s, cast back to place.
All back to back with partners. |
| B |
Taking hands with neighbor, all fall back setting; come forward turning single.
3 changes of a circular hey starting with partner. |
|
I Care Not For These Ladies |
|
| Part 1 |
A |
Circle left and back (slipping step). |
| B |
Set to partner and turn single. |
| C |
Turn partner halfway by the R (3) and acknowledge (1),
repeat with next person by the L,
Two-hand turn the next person once round (8). |
| Part 2 |
A |
Partners side R shoulder and L. |
| B/C |
As in Part 1. |
| Part 3 |
A |
Partners arm R and L. |
| B/C |
As in Part 1. |
|
Jamaica |
| Source: |
Playford, 1670 |
| Meter: |
2/2 |
| Format: |
Duple minor, double "impropriety” progression |
|
| A1 |
1s join R hands (2), then L hands (2) and turn halfway to change places and face the 2s (4);
All change places in the same manner. |
| B1 |
1s figure 8 up through the 2s (skipping step) *. |
| A2 |
With the next couple: 1st diagonal turn 2 hands; 2nd diagonal turn 2 hands. |
| B2 |
Turn new neighbors 2 hands 1½ times (skipping step). Partners turn 2 hands. |
* 1s will alternate sides each time through the dance. If this is off-putting, couples may elect to dance the figure 8 in 6 bars and then cross R to end B1 proper. |
Juice of Barley |
|
| A |
All back-to-back with partner; turn partner 2 hands. |
| B1 |
1&2Left cross between partners and cast back to progressed places (1Left passing in front of 2Left). All clap and circle L. |
| B2 |
1&2Right cross between partners and cast back to progressed places (1Right passing in front). All clap and circle L. |
|
Key to the Cellar |
|
| A1 |
1s cast, gate down through the 3s. |
| A2 |
Lines forward and back; 1s gate up through the 2s. |
| B1 |
L shoulder heys for 3 across the dance, 1st couple dancing with the couple to their R. |
| B2 |
1s R shoulder round. All turn partner 2 hands. |
|
Lilliburlero |
|
| A |
1s lead through 2s, cast back to place.
2s lead up through 1s, cast back to place. |
| B1 |
1st corners change places R shoulder;
2nd corners change places R shoulder.
Taking hands with neighbors all fall back a double, come forward turning single. |
| B2 |
All change places with partner R shoulder and face away from neighbor (4), dance backwards into home place passing neighbor R shoulder (4); three changes of a circular hey beginning R shoulder with partner (8). |
|
Mary K |
| Composer: |
Gary Roodman, 2002 |
| Video: |
youtu.be/l5yQwNEEnQo
|
| Tune: |
"Scherzo in Cm" by Dave Wiesler |
| Meter: |
3/2 |
| Format: |
Duple minor, improper |
|
| A1 |
2nd diagonals cast R to dance CW to each other’s place (9), turn partner 2 hands halfway (3). * |
| A2 |
New 2nd diagonals cast R to dance CW to each other’s place (9), turn neighbor 2 hands halfway (3). *
|
| B |
Circle 4 halfway (to original places) and fall back (6), cross R with partner and loop R to face (6); 2 changes of Rights & Lefts, starting with partner (6), turn partner 2 hands (6). Finish in progressed places, 2s facing partners, 1s facing up. |
| C1 |
Petit Fours (3 steps per move):
With original neighbor couple:
1s: lead up center // face partner and fall back // dance down the outside // face and come forward and face down.
while 2s: Fall back // dance down the outside // face and come forward // lead up the center and face partners. |
| C2 |
Repeat with next neighbor couple:
1s: lead down center // face and fall back // dance up the outside // face and come forward.
while 2s: Fall back // dance up the outside // face and come forward // lead down the center and face partners. |
* In A1 & A2 pass R shoulders when meeting dancers from the next set. |
The Merry Salopians (AKA The Old Mill) |
| Source: |
Walsh, 1718 |
| Video: |
youtu.be/GfsznxfO4qA |
| Tune: |
"The Old Mill" by Brian Jenkins |
| Meter: |
3/2 |
| Format: |
Three couple longways |
|
| A1 |
1Left cast one place, then turn 3Right by R hand
while 1Right balance back then follow partner round 2Left and dance across the set (12);
1Right, now followed by partner, cast up and dance across the set and pull back L shoulder (6), 1s turn L hands half way to original places (6). |
| A2 |
Repeat A1 in mirror image:
1Right cast and turn 3Left by L hand while 1Left balance back then follow partner and dance across the set (12);
1Left, now followed by partner, cast up and dance across the set and pull back R shoulder (6), 1s turn R hands half way to end facing down with R hands joined (6). |
| B |
1s lead down and face out the right side, 2s moving up (3).
Mirror heys for 3 across the dance, 1Left with the 3rd couple, 1Right with the 2nd, 1s dancing out the R side to begin and finish facing each other up and down in the middle of the set (15);
1s turn R hand ¾ to end improper in middle places (6). |
| A3 |
1s cross R shoulder, cast up to the top, dance in to meet facing down, turn single away from partner (12);
1s lead to the bottom, other couples dance up the outside to follow them (3s ending in top place) (6),
1s cast up to middle place as 2s continue to 3rd place (6). End in order: 3-1-2. |
|
Movement Afoot |
| Composer: |
Alan Winston, 2012 |
| Video: |
youtu.be/MDGKUT9Zj9k |
| Tune: |
"Steciak's" by Larry Unger |
| Meter: |
3/4 |
| Format: |
Duple minor |
|
| A1 |
Left file set forward to partners, then fall back as the Right file dance forward; all turn single R and turn R hand half way. |
| A2 |
Repeat A1 with the other dancers starting, finishing in original places. |
| B1 |
Clockwise poussette CW;
Double Mad Robin with 1st diagonal dancing up and down the middle to begin. Finish with 1s in the middle facing 2Left, 1Left in the lead. |
| B2 |
Dolphin hey across the set, 1s passing 2Left by the L shoulder to begin. Finish in progressed places. |
|
Newcastle
[If time permits. For those who know — will not be walked through] |
|
Note: for this dance “Lefties” refer to partner starting on the left in a couple, and “Righties” to partner on right.
| Ⅰ |
A1&2 |
Joining hands in a circle, into the center and back; set to partner, set to corner. Repeat. |
| B1 |
Partners arm R. Lefties star L, while Righties skip around the set CW until you meet your partner the 2nd time (may be on the diagonal positions). |
| B2 |
Partners arm L. Righties star R, while Lefties skip around CCW to place. |
| Ⅱ |
A1&2 |
Partners siding, step R and honor. Pass by L shoulder. Repeat with the next. |
| B1 |
Original heads lead in a double, lead out a double and form an arch.; original sides cast behind corners and lead through the arches to place. |
| B2 |
Repeat with original side couples leading in, original heads casting. |
| Ⅲ |
A |
With current partner, arm R once; arm L 1½.
With next person arm R once; arm L 1½ to form close lines of 4 up and down the hall. (Lefties on the R of the Righties they just turned). |
| B1 |
Lines fall back a double & come forward; all turn single and pass through R shoulder with opposite to form new lines of 4 across the hall (original head couples in the middle of new lines). |
| B2 |
Lines fall back a double & come forward; all turn single and pass through R shoulder with opposite to original places. |
|
Old Wife Behind the Fire |
|
| A1 |
1s set, cast down as 2s move up; 1s turn 2 hands. |
| A2 |
2s repeat. |
| B1 |
1s cross, cast to 2nd place, while 2s meet and lead up.
2s cross, cast into the middle of a line of 4 facing up, while 1s meet, lead up and cast to the ends of the line. |
| B2 |
All lead up a double and back, bending the line to face partners.
2 changes of Rights & Lefts. |
|
Peridot Ring |
| Composer: |
Susan Kevra, 2017 |
| Video: |
youtu.be/6dy-fpFk4UQ |
| Tune: |
Rachel Bell |
| Meter: |
2/2 |
| Format: |
Three couple longways |
|
| A1 |
All up a double and back (turn towards partner to face down);
Down a double and back. |
| A2 |
All siding partner; set and turn single R. |
| B1 |
Circle L half way to lines facing partners; balance forward and back (no hands) and cross over passing R shoulder. |
| B2 |
Top couple (3s) cross R shoulder and cast to middle place and begin a 2 hand turn
While: 2s meet and lead up and bottom couple (1s) dance back to back.
All turn partner 2 hands to own sides. |
|
Rafe's Waltz |
| Composer: |
Victor Skowronski, 1996 |
| Video: |
youtu.be/Q1cFIFBWToU?si=dZ0dJbaWAujwguqu |
| Tune: |
“Green Bushes” (aka "The Cutty Wren")
from "English Folk Song Suite" by Ralph Vaughan Williams |
| Meter: |
3/4 |
| Format: |
Duple minor |
|
| A |
1st corners set and cross R shoulder, 2nd corners repeat;
Taking nearer hands with neighbor all set and cross R shoulder with partner,
Facing neighbor, taking nearer hands with partner, all set and cross R shoulder with neighbor to original places. |
| B |
1s lead down the middle (6), turn single away (6); lead up and turn single away to original place (12).
All turn partner R hand ending close and facing up; 1s cast off while 2s lead up, all turn single cloverleaf toward new neighbors. |
|
Well Donne |
|
| A1 |
All set to partners; 1s cast as 2s lead up. 1s lead through next 2s, cast back to 2nd place (skipping step). |
| A2 |
All set to partners; 2s cast as 1s lead up. 2s lead through next 1s, cast back to 2nd place (skipping step). |
| B1 |
Long lines lead forward (4); fall back as 1s (above) roll away the 2s (4). 2s gate the 1s up and around 1¼ to line of 4 facing up (8) |
| B2 |
All up a double and back, bending the line. Turn partner two hands to end proper (Crossed hands buzz swing recommended). |
|
When Laura Smiles |
| Composer: |
Orly Krasner, 2000 |
| Video: |
youtu.be/AcvgEMuOJro |
| Tune: |
Philip Rosseter, 1601 |
| Meter: |
3/4 |
| Format: |
Duple minor |
|
| A1 |
1s lead down (6), lead up (6), and turn single into place (6). |
| A2 |
2s repeat, leading up to begin. |
| B |
2 changes of Rights & Left starting with partner (12), partners R shoulder round (9), all circle L (12) and turn partner 2 hands halfway (6). |
|
|
